Place the chicken in the marinade for a minimum of an hour or overnight.

Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and allow it too cook on each side until golden brown (5-7 minutes each side). Remove the chicken and set aside, brown the onions and then add the whole garlic, turn the heat down to low and add the chicken and marinade back in and allow to cook until the chicken is fully cooked, this should take about 15-20 minutes.

You can also use this recipe and just grill the chicken for a delicious finish.

I love roasted chicken and make this simple recipe at least a few times a month. It is super easy and delicious.

Ingredients
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon coconut oil, grape-seed oil or any other oil you prefer
4 pieces of chicken breasts or 8 pieces of thighs, it can be skinless or boneless. If you are using skinless and boneless, it takes less time to cook and check on the meat 10-12 minutes earlier.

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Pat the meat with a paper towel to make sure it is dry and all moisture is removed.

Combine together the seasonings, oil and butter.

Pour over the chicken and rub it into the meat and place in a baking dish. If you use a metal dish, the cooking time will be decreased by 5-10 minutes.

Brining is the process of soaking anything in or saturate with salty water. This does not make the meat, vegetables or whatever you brine (I am not really sure what else you would want to brine) salty, it actually allows the water and flavor to flood every cell in the meat. It also takes any cut of meat that may be tough and tenderizes it. This easy technique can be used on ay cut of meat.

For all of the brines, immerse the meat in water and place in the refrigerator for a minimum of an hour, overnight or leave in the freezer labeled (cause it is very hard to tell what it is, duh!) Before you cook the meat, allow it to sit on the counter for 15 minutes out of the brine, pat dry. By patting the meat dry, you are removing the excess liquid which will allow the meat to brown.

I love everything that Independence Day stands for: reaffirming your commitment to freedom, liberty and the freedom of choice. What a beautiful concept.

As I celebrate everything else in life, I celebrate this wonderful holiday with the fs: food, friends and family.

I have compiled together all of my favorite recipes to make your Independence Day gathering that much easier. You can find all of my recipes on Pinterest.

What about decorating? I like to keep it very simple when it comes to cookout decorations. Leave out huge bowls filled with raspberries, blueberries and whipped cream. This will run the center of the table and place the desserts and appetizers at the center on top of cake stands of varying sizes. This keeps the gathering communal because it forces everyone towards the food, then they can sit down and make some new friends. Also, this makes cleanup so easy because you don’t have to worry about pulling up the decorations and putting them away. I am a huge fan of simplistic beauty.

Regardless of what you make, who you spend the day with or what you do; please remember one thing. We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have so many rights that have been fought for and preserved by countless men and women. Remember to thank a veteran for their service. Happy Independence Day!

I am a huge fan of butter! My friends make fun of me because I buy butter from Costco and I usually buy 8lbs of it to last me a month. I live alone so this delicious butter is not shared with anyone else, it is just for me!

2.) Butter is filled with antioxidants, beta carotene, vitamin E (another antioxidant that helps protect our heart), vitamin K (helps our body with blood clotting), vitamin D(strengthens immune system and proper absorption of calcium), Activator X, aka.Vitamin K2 (bone strength and calcium distribution), selenium (an antioxidant that shows some evidence of reducing the odds of prostate cancer), and one of the best sources of vitamin A (promotes the health of our thyroid, adrenals, organs, and aids in the absorption of calcium).

3.) It tastes so much better, the rich color is an indicator that it is filled with nutrients.

4.) Butter helps fat-soluble vitamins be absorbed by the body which means that you actually benefit from the great healthy foods that you eat!

5.) Butter contains short and medium chain fatty acids, studies show that these acids help the great battle against cancer and benefits our immune system.

6.) Grass-fed butter has the highest levels of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which keeps you skinny (no, really- studies show that it helps with weight loss and weight management, and if that wasn’t enough- it fights against carcinogens.)

7.) Children are growing faster due to the hormones found in milk, when feeding your children organic milk and butter, you are keeping them from ingesting harmful chemicals and hormones that they do not need.

Macho salad is a recipe that I learned a few years ago. What makes it so macho? It basically means that you add everything under the sun to a huge bowl and chomp away. Here are some of my favorites to add to this salad, feel free to add other ingredients and make it your own. As always, food is about having fun!

This recipe makes 4 large salads. (When I say large, think about feeding Adam Richman from Man vs. Food.) You can always make this recipe for fewer people and customize to your tastes.

My goal as a blogger is to teach you to take recipes that you adore and make it your own.

I am on a Thai kick right now! I have been craving foods that are not normally associated with the low-carb lifestyle and finding new and creative ways to feel the craving monster without giving into horrible foods. I have to say that you can’t even tell this recipe doesn’t contain noodles. A new use for veggies and to get your kids to eat healthy without even knowing it.